Vise or clamp sequentially actuated by screw and hydraulic ram



Dec. 27, 1949 c. B. VICKERS 2,492,338

VISE OR CLAMP SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATED BY SCREW AND HYDRAULIC RAM Filed June 5, 1946 I v 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS VISE OR CLAMP SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATED Dec. 27, 1949 c, B v c s 2,492,338

BY SCREW AND HYDRAULIC RAM Filed June 5, 194.6 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C 0/v'0// 5. Wake/"J ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1949 c. 'B. VICKERS 2,492,338

VISE OR CLAMP SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATED BY SCREW AND HYDRAULIC RAM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1946 QINVENTOR. Carroll 5. V/c/ ers ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 27 1949 VISE R CLAMP SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATED BY SCREW AND HYDRAULIC RAM Carroll B. Vickers. Snyder, N. Y.

Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,538

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp or vise and particularly to the type employed in machine shops, the same utilizing a screw shaft for bringing the relatively movable jaws of the vise into clamping embrace with the workpiece. Sometimes difiiculty is experienced in firmly gripping the workpiece so as to hold the same against slipping when being worked.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bench or workshop vise which will have 'an accelerated initial setting of the jaws followed by a relatively firmer clamping upon the workpiece but with less manual efiort.

The invention further has for its aim to provide a vise or clamp having a quick acting preliminary adjustment with a relatively slower adjustment of greater mechanical advantage being automatically brought into play to produce a gripping pressure substantially greater than that afforded by the preliminary adjustment.

Further, the invention has for its object to provide a vise or clamp in which the usual screw thread adjustment of the movable jaw is automatically supplemented by a hydraulic or fluid adjustment so as to provide a grip of extreme force upon the workpiece.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view with parts in section, depicting the improved clamp or vise in its mechanically adjusted position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the vise in its fluid clamped position;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively similar views showing the present invention embodied in a shaper and milling machine vise;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a still further embodiment of the present inventive thought;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a further modification; and

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view about on line l'l of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates the fixed jaw of a bench vise having a body 2 and a base 3. The movable jaw 4 of the vise has the usual bar support 5 sliding through the body, while the screw shaft 1 6 has threaded engagement in the body so that manipulation of the handle I will advance the movable jaw 4 toward and from the fixed jaw in the usual manner.

According to the present invention, means havand a power chamber ing a greater mechanical advantage are provided to supplement the screw imposed gripping force with one of greater intensity. According to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, this is accomplished automatically by interposing a hydraulic unit between the handle 1 and the screw 6, such unit being responsive to a predetermined screw imposed force incidental to the preliminary setting of the movable jaw. The hydraulic unit comprises a body 8 having a work chamber 9 l0 intercommunicating through passage H. The chamber 9 is formed about an extension l2 of the screw shaft and slidably receives a ring-like piston l3 packed by a ring shaped channeled packing [4 of rubber or the like. A plunger I5 is slidable in the power chamber l0 and is fluid sealed by a cupped packing member [6 of rubber or like material. The plunger l5 projects from the chamber l0 axially of the screw shaft and is designed to be acted upon by a cap nut-like member 11 in which the handle 1 is arranged. The cap nut I! has threaded engagement, as indicated at [8, with cylindrical extension IS in which the power chamher I!) is formed so that when the cap nut is turned relative to the body 8 it will advance thereon and slide the plunger [5 inwardly to exert pressure on a body of liquid confined between the plunger l5 and the piston l3. This will serve to project the ring-like piston outwardly from its chamber 9 so as to slide the movable jaw 4 with the force transmitted by the confined body of liquid, and since the cross sectional area of the plunger I5 is relatively smaller than that of the piston I3, such transmitted force will be augmented accordingly to cause the movable jaw 4 to grip the workpiece under an exceedingly great clamping pressure.

While the movable jaw will be urged hydraulically under this extreme force, the movement of the jaw will be relatively small and, therefore, such hydraulic action will not be called upon until the mechanical action of the screw 6 has taken up all slack by placing the movable jaw against the workpiece under a predetermined resistance. To this end the cap nut I l is compelled to rotate with the body 8 and the screw 6 as a unit until such predetermined and abnormal resistance is encountered, and this is accomplished herein by locking the nut and screw together, as by providing a split spring ring 2| within a groove 22 in a surrounding part 23 of the body 8. The split ring 2| is designed to normally contract itself within an opposing groove 24 formed on the periphery of the cap nut H, with the outer margin of the ring extending into the groove 22 to resist advancing movement of the nut and thereby produce a binding action in the threaded engagement I8. This binding or jamming action will, therefore, cause the parts 6, 8 and I? to rotate as a unit for initially bringing the movable jaw 4 against the workpiece, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, the broken lines therein representing the starting position of such screw unit.

Upon the-continued turning of the screw unit 6, 8, H, the abnormal resistance offered by the workpiece to further movement of the movable jaw will cause the cap nut to .Wed eonexpand the lock ring 2I outwardly from the-groove 1-24 and thereby release the cap nut for advancing along its threaded engagement I8 on the extension 49, as shown in Fig. 2 wherein the broken lines will indicate somewhat exaggerated the hydraulic movement imparted to the movable body. The

lock is therefore released in response to a prede- --lease of the capnut-maybe facilitated byprovidinga bevel-25 between the outer face-of the ring and the contacting side face of the groove 25. The advancing movement of the cap nut will be independent of and relative to the screw shaft 6 and the .body ;8, which :two latter parts will remain stationary. Such advancing movement of the cap nut will force the plunger I5 into the chamber -I- and express the liquid through the communicating passage -I I into the work chamber 59 for projecting the piston I3 :to place the final squeeze on the movable jaw into firmer embrace with the workpie When it is desired to .uncla-mp the workpiece, .the'capnut'willvbe rotated in-the reverse direction ,by itself until its groove 24 again registers with sthe;s-plit locking ring -2 I whereupon the latter will FIB-enter the relatively shallow groove .24 to inter- ;lock the cap nut and the body 8 against relative axial movement. This initial movement of the pap nut will release the hydraulic pressure on the movable jaw until the cap nut'and body are again interlocked by the ring 2I whereupon the threaded engagement 1!;3 between the cap nut and the chambered extension I9 will jam to bind the cap nut to theflbody '8 for rotating as a unit with the screw shaft 6 for mechanically camming or retracting the movable jaw from the workpiece at a relatively faster movement. During this retractive movement of the screw unit, the collar 26 which is fixed on the screw shaft ,6 will cushion itself a ainst the movable jaw through the med-ium of an interposed coil spring 21, such spring serving normally to hold the movable jaw against the piston I3 and indirectly urge the plunger I against the inner bottom wall 26 of the cap nut 1.1 In order to insure the mechanical retraction of the movable jaw, the cap nut IT is provided with the peripheral flange 2-3 within the hollow body part :23 for engaging the wall 23 thereof. This will frustrate any tendency of the lock ring 2-1 .to spring out from the groove '24 after the clamping jaw has been hydraulically released.

A vise constructed in accordance with the embodiment of'Figs. 1 and 2 just described will mechanically effect a preliminary gripping of the workpiece to be followed by a much firmer gripping through the mechanical advantage gained by the use of the hydraulic unit. The changeover is effected automatically as the operator continues to turn the handle Likewise the vise is automatic in its retractive movement. The construction is simple in designand effective in use.

and milling ,machine shown .in Figs. 93 and 4 wherein the movable jaw- 4' -has threaded engagement with the screw shaft 6' while the latter has journal sliding support in the fixed jaw I, a col- ,lar 26' serving to .prevent axial displacement of the shaft from the jaw I. While a spring may be interposed between the two jaws to function in the same manner as the spring 21, the same has been omitted from the illustration in these two figures. The ring-like piston I3 bears against a shoulder 32 on the shaft instead of bearing directly against the movable jaw since the :latter is being advanced by'the camming action .of the threads on the screw shaft. chamber lfi'communicates through ports-zI I with .The power the work chamber 9 between a .pair of opposed .packings i l of annular channeled design. In

lieu of the usual .crosshandle, the cap nut I'I' T-iS provided with a square or non-circular shank 33 for receiving a removable tool or socket wrench I.

The operation of this shaper and milling machine -vise is similar to thatpreviously set forth, the lock ring 2i serving to secure the cap nut to the chambered extension I9. The extension is herein formed unitary with the .screw shaft but independently of the body ;8, thescrew unit 6, I9 having journal support .in the .body 8' which latter in turn is fixed to the base.3. Consequently the hollowed body part 2351s likewise fixed at all times while the cap nut has journaled support therein. As the cap nut is turned by the tool 7, when in the position shown in Fig. 3; it will rotate with the chambered extension and the screw shaft as a unit to bring the movable jaw 4 mechanically against the work-piece. Upon initially encountering abnormal resistance to the ad .vancing jaw, the lock ring will then release the cap nut to turn upon and relative to the chambered extension for pushing the plunger I5 into the chamber Ill whereupon the fluid will be forced out through the ports II to project the piston I3 and, through the shoulder 32, advance the screw shaft together with the jaw-4 as a unit. A reverse turning of the cap nut I-I will initially release the hydraulic pressure and thereafter mechanically retract the movable jaw.

In both forms of the invention already described the cap nut is normally locked against advancing on the chambered extension I9 or I9 but automatically unlocked for such advancing movement when the predetermined mechanically transmitted or shaft imposed clamping force has been reached. Upon such unlocking the screw is arrested and the supplementing hydraulic pressure is applied to the movable jaw or holding member for more firmly securing the workpiece. This hydraulic adjustment is permitted by reason of a limited play or lost motion in the connection between either the movable jaw and the screw shaft, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or the screw shaft and the fixed jaw, as in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the modification of Fig. 5 the lock is manually actuated. This lock may be of simple form and is herein depicted as comprising a pin 2Ia which is slidable in an opening in thehollow body extension 23a for being projected into a peripheral groove 24a in the cap nut IIa. After the screw unit has preliminarily placed the movable jaw against the workpiece, the lock pin may be retracted to free the cap nut for advancing along the chambered extension I9 to depress the power plunger and hydraulically applying the final clamping pressure.

If desired, the hydraulic pressure may be applied by means other than the vise handle, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, wherein the hydraulic unit 8" is interposed on the usual screw shaft 6" between the movable jaw 4" and the thrust collar 35 adjacent the handle 1. The hydraulic unit has a work chamber 9" slidably receiving the annular work piston l3". The annular channeled packings l4" seal the chamber against leakage, and opening between these packing rings is the power chamber ID in which the plunger l5" operates radially of the screw shaft, the latter being of proper length to receive the hydraulic unit thereon. The plunger is sealed by the packing ring l6 and is actuated by a backing screw II". By applying a tool to the head 33" the plunger will be moved inwardly to hydraulically project the work piston l3" for securing the final clamping pressure after the movable jaw has been initially placed against the workpiece through the manipulation of the handle 1. If desired, a pressure distributing plate or collar 34 may be interposed between the piston l3 and the movable jaw, a spring similar to the spring 21 being interposedbetween the movable jaw and the shaft collar 26 if desired.

In all forms of the invention it will be observed that the vise is preliminarily set by turning the screw shaft to advance the movable jaw thereon, and thereafter the hydraulic pressure is applied to firmly secure the workpiece in the vise with little manual effort. The clamp or vise is simple in construction and unitary in design. The hydraulic unit, combined with the mechanical movement, is applicable to other uses where it is desired to exert an extreme or heavy pressure upon an object beyond that which might be manually accomplished through a purely mechanical movement. For example, in letter presses the hydraulic unit could be readily installed. In fact, any pressure exerting device could utilize a mechanical movement for initially applying a preliminary holding pressure on-the movable jaw and then supplement such holding pressure by the hydraulic unit as taught herein.

The foregoing description has been given in detail for clearness of understanding and without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other .releasably connected to the shaft for turning the same to so preliminarily set the holding member, normally inoperative means operable by said turning means for applying hydraulic pressure to the piston, and means responsive to a predetermined force applied to the holding member by said screw shaft for disrupting the operative relationship between said turning means and said screw shaft and establishing operative relationship between said turning means and said normally inoperative means for securing such supplementing hydraulic pressure.

2. A clamp of the character described, comprising cooperating jaws one being movable toward the other, a screw shaft connecting the two jaws together for limited lost motion and operating to advance and retract said movable jaw toward and from the companion jaw, means independent of the screw shaft for turning the latter to secure a preliminary setting of the movable jaw against an interposed workpiece, means releasably coupling the turning means to the screw shaft for so turning it and responsive to a predetermined clamping force applied by said screw shaft to said movable jaw for releasing said turning means to move independently of the shaft, and means operable by said turning means during such independent movement for supplementing the screw imposed pressure upon the jaw to the extent of the lost motion.

3. A clamp of the character described, comprising cooperating jaws one being movable toward the other, a screw shaft connecting the two jaws together for limited lost motion and operating to advance and retract said movable jaw toward and from the companion jaw, means independent of the screw shaft for turning the latter to secure a preliminary setting of the movable jaw against an interposed workpiece, a hydraulic unit interposed between said turning means and the movable jaw and having a chamber with a piston therein, said unit operable to move said movable jaw with respect to the companion jaw by reason of such lost motion, and means releasably connecting the turning means to the screw shaft for turning as a unit, said releasable means responding to a predetermined clamping force imposed on the movable jaw by the turning movement of the screw shaft to release the turning means for independent movement, said turning means coacting with the hydraulic unit during such independent movement for so moving the movable jaw thereby.

4. A clamp of the character described, comprising cooperating jaws one being movable toward the other, a screw shaft connecting the two jaws together for limited lost motion and operating to advance and retract said movable jaw toward and from the companion jaw, means detachably connected to the screw shaft for turning the same to secure a preliminary setting of the movable jaw against an interposed workpiece, a hydraulic unit interposed between said turning means and the movable jaw and having an annular chamber extending about the screw shaft with a ring-like piston in the chamber operable to exert clamping force upon the movable jaw to move the latter relative to the companion jaw by reason of such lost motion, and means operable by and upon detachment of the turning means from the shaft to exert pressure on a body of liquid confined in said chamber for so actuating the ring-like piston.

5. A clamp of the character described, comprising cooperating jaws one being movable toward the other, a screw shaft connecting the two jaws together for limited play and operating to advance and retract said movable jaw toward and from the companion jaw, means for turning the screw shaft to secure a preliminary setting of the movable jaw against an interposed workpiece, a hydraulic unit having an annular chamber with a ring-like piston therein extending about the screw shaft and operable to exert clamping forc tiiejlattleire t; I soflof'such playfsai'd n r extension formed withja'cl'iarhbei mpgi'nniumc tion with the first chamber, a plunger; arranged in the extension chamber ant1 hperalol 'e to subject the confined bo'dylof liquid t a piston actuating pressure, said turning means having threaded engagement'on the extension andoperable there by to depress the"plung'eri'for so actuating the" piston, and means normally holding said turning j means against plunger 1 advancing movement on the'extens'ion but operable to release said turning means for such plunger advancing move ment. w

6. A clamp of the character described, cornprising cooperatingj'awsone being movable to ward the other, a. screw shaft connectingthe 'tw'o jaw's'together for limited play and'ope'rat ing to advance and retract said movable jaw toward and from the companion jawjmeans for turning the screw shaft to secure'a' preliminary setting" of'the' niovable jawag'ai'rist an'= interposed work.- piece; "a hydraulic unit interposed between "said turning "means'and' the"mo'v abl jaw andhavin'if an annulafchaniber 'extnd about the screw; shafr with' a' 'ri'ng 1ke'pist nin the: chamber" operable" to" exertclamping"force upon the maxiable jaw to move the latter relative to the "cornpaniondawbyreasoii of 's'uchplay, s'aid' screw shaft-having an axial-extension formed"with"a" chamberin"communicationwith-the first "cham-" beig'aplung'er arrangedin the extension chamber aii'd'operable-to siilojectjthe confined may of liquid to' apiston 'a'ctuating'pressure,"said turning means f having threadedrengagement1on"the 'extens'i on" and 'operablethereby 'to depress "the plunger for' so act-u'ating'thepistonf and means responsive" toa predetermined screw imposedforte and nor mally holding saidturhing' means against plunger advancing movement on theextension but'operable, in response to such predetermined shaftinr posed force to release said tiirn'ir'rg means for such plunger'advancingmovementzi' 7. A vise comprising a fixed jaw, a movable. jaw, a screwshaft opera-tivelyrconnecting the two J' S davin a limited .lbst:.r'riotion :c'onn'ec:

tion with one jaw; an annular chamberiabout the" shaft, a ring-like piston encircling the shaftfa'nd' arranged withinthe chamber for exerting 'a clamping pressure upcn the movable. law, said m'unicating with the firstqchamherya plunger; inij said axially extending chjambfl i, cooperating withit' the piston to oonfinefari interposed body of liquid tf therebetween, a cap nutthreaded .on' the shaft:

over the outer I end of the plunger,., and "means locking the cap nut ,to the 'shaft for turning.

therewith as a unit and releasablefto. permit the" cap nut to advance al0ng"the' shaftto'depress" the plunger. 8; A- vise comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a screw shaft operativly."c0n'riecting'tl'ie" nection with one jaw, an annular chamber about" the'shaft, a ringlikepistorr encircling the shaft and arranged within the chamberfor exerting a clamping pressure'upori the movable jaw, Said shaft having an axially extending chambercorn-l municating with the first chamber, a plunger in saidaxia'lly extending c ha'r'nbei cooperating'with the piston 'to' confine an interposed body of liquid I therebetv'v'e'enja cap 'nujt threadedon' the shaft over the'oute'r end of the plunger, means locking the cap nut 'to' the shaftffoftiirning therewith 75,5;

shaft having an axially extendingchamber con'ra, hewn un f aain un a i 1% he; st aznbsr un er; 1. 15, aidL xi yi a xi igi ain i o r ti with; the P t n. c nfin L in. inter osed bod of ama; iebs wsen a a i i isa g he. aft, over the outer 'endfof the plunger, and a 100 15; normally securing 't he'j capmu'ttto the'fs'hait for; 20, a ia ti e, and e as l a wl ner el, 1? resistance; to the shaft imparted molverne t oi the movable jaw forreleasing'tlje {capnut where, bythc continued turning of thelatter willadvanee the cap nut'along thelsh af t to delbressthejplunger j e i nts qis'q aif i"maria; jaw' sup'plernental to that imposed by the screw '10. A vise comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a screwshaft operativly permeating the two: 30. an n e ia'l i i 1 e ii'e i eqiiq -l "*w ithbnej w an annular chamber aboutthe shaft, a 'ring-like'pist'oh encircling the shaft an'dl arranged within the 'fch'a'n'iber far exerting a clamping pressure upon the inovable jaw, said I shaft having an axiall 'jextending chan' b erco m 'n unicati'ng with the "first chamber, a,plung er said axially extending c amber' cotpe uugwi h the piston to confine an interposed body of liquid the'rebetween', a'capjnut threadedfon the shaft, LQ over the outer ndbfjtheplunger, andalocli;

normally securing the cap nutto th'e shait'for turning as a: unit and releasable upon ablilqlllilalj resista e to" the; siren mpar ed insta ment of the movable jaw for releasingtlie cap nut whereby a the co'ritiriudjturning er the latterfwillfadvance;

th'j ca p nut along theshaft -tddepress the plung. arid, t a" r ifl qfu 1 he. s ab je w supplemental to thatimposedbi the screw shaft; saidilock :cdmprisii g alsplit ring normally eon- 5o tracted i we Deripheralgrooveon the cap-mt; I with the outer'margjin oi the loclg, ring engag f ing in a groove formed in th'e'surrounding part of "thesh aft whereby to cause a bind ng inthe threaded enga ement of: the: cap nut with the 5 shaft"to so look the 'c'ap'nut and shaft into a ""'turnab1e unit, said lockifig'ring beingiexpandablei: out into the'groove of the shaittorelease the'cap"; nut for advancingalohg'tl'i'e 's'hlaft'l by reasonof its threadedengagement therewith. to ILA 'vis'ejco mp'rising a fi$i jaw, a movable "jaw, a screwo'peratively"connecting the twojaws I with" limited may thereb'etwee n; mean for tiirn ing'the sere'w 'to mp6s w them'ovable'jaw, V g, n fitm n f a er: evh rl qele vaili i "imposing; a higherclampin' pr'ssureupo ni the movable aw; by ea f the play corinectioni di f' 's iil i ews mansi fie iah e i th presenc of apr'ecleterin ed screw imposed force M T. Q? in s' ii jsm .1 'ngm aiisinn era I} i e win i 'pa t e. scr w. .ja fs i rl zen for; connecting said s'crewt urning means to said ie. 82 t 'ih 'la ie 12.;Av1se rJikedem c m' r' s fahxfedjawh mgiva lej rewgiieir 1 9 two jaws with limited play therebetween, means detachably connected to the screw for turning the same to impose a predetermined clampin pressure upon the movable jaw, normally inoperative hydraulic means operable to impose a greater clamping pressure upon the movable jaw by reason of the limited play connection, and pressure responsive means operable in the presence of the predetermined screw imposed pressure for disconnecting the turning means from the screw and operatively connecting said screw turning means to the hydraulic means for actuating the latter.

CARROLL B. VICKERS.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pilipp Sept. 6, 1904 De Leeuw Feb. 20, 1912 Church Nov. 28, 1922 Upham July 12, 1927 Prouty Feb. 14, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Jan. 31, 1921 

